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2010-11-01 Home Front: Politix

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Posted by PrivateEye 2010-11-01 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Read the whole thing. While the Dem is still a liberal, I'd call him a common-sense lib, and his advice should be taken by trunks, as well:

"Governing isn't as easy as you think. Many of you have taken pledges that are contradictory to balance the budget and cut taxes, for example. You must be honest about the numbers, since our annual deficit now exceeds all discretionary spending combined. If you set as your goal to roll back the size of government, you have an obligation to answer the tough questions and show real courage, not just appeal to ideology. Treat the voters like adults."

Posted by Bobby 2010-11-01 06:37|| 2010-11-01 06:37|| Front Page Top

#2 He was, indeed, a dumb-ass. He fell for the old "Sure I'll respect you in the morning" routine. This is what counts for character these days? No wonder we're in the trouble we are.

Posted by Spot 2010-11-01 08:19|| 2010-11-01 08:19|| Front Page Top

#3 The central problem here, for either party, is "party discipline".

In the W Bush term, the Republicans were savaged because he tried to go back to a 19th Century presidential philosophy of letting congress direct domestic affairs, and they ran hog wild. They had zero discipline.

Then Pelosi's problem was that she interpreted party discipline as "The dictatorship of the Pelosi". And that was ruinous. But she had it half right.

The party structure has to reach a strong consensus before it moves. Not just the whim of the leader, but the solid backing of the "structural majority", if not the actual majority. Those with chutzpah. Then once this consensus is reached, *that* is when party discipline comes into play, and deviation from the game plan is crushed.

Think of a football team. First the team knows the play, and then the quarterback calls the play. Anyone not following the play at that point needs to be benched.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-11-01 08:33|| 2010-11-01 08:33|| Front Page Top

#4 I'll add that there are levels of discipline. If the structural majority is unified, everybody has to follow. If some of them don't agree, then there needs to be haggling, and permitting some deviation without punishment.

And if there is no consensus, others have to be given a chance to rally their ideas in a floor vote, if for no other reason, than to show their supporters that they tried.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-11-01 08:38|| 2010-11-01 08:38|| Front Page Top

#5 In theory taxes can be cut and the budget kept in the black by cutting the level of spending.

Many instances, in general, the largest expense is wages. Especially with retirement benifits.

So start looking at actual wages and necessity of department and start by cutting there. It may risk a France size union pout and shutdown government for a bit...but that may be more feature than bug.

So there in outline I have cut or at least froze tax levels, balanced the budget, and reduced the size of government.

Its about getting people in office who know how things get done instead of the hand wave make it so. There are Peter Principles everywhere, but it is the liberals who seem to like to get loud about how smart they are, figure a way to get in charge, make a royal mess of things, blame somebody else and leave.

Republicans better get it together as well. They are going to find a lot of damned if do damned if don't situations, so might as well do the right thing; people are more likely to suffer some hardships if it is for a good reason and it fixes the problem.

Posted by swksvolFF 2010-11-01 12:28|| 2010-11-01 12:28|| Front Page Top

#6 I doubt there's a single government agency that isn't duplicating the work of at least one other, and in many cases, multiple others. There needs to be a thorough review of what the government does, who does it, and how it's done, then start combining, cutting, trimming, splicing, and deleting unneeded agencies, offices, levels, and bureaucracies. If the unions raise a stink, nationalize them and make them meet military discipline. I guarantee you, 90% of them CAN'T, and four or five percent of those left over WON'T. After that, fire (as in, discharge, for unsuitability or for no need) at will. It'll take a strong, disciplined leadership, which I doubt we'll see for ten to twenty years yet, but it WILL happen. It's the only hope for our nation.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-11-01 18:55|| 2010-11-01 18:55|| Front Page Top

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